In November I had the opportunity to work at the Renaissance festival, a popular festival that happens every year in the Louisiana area. People from states close by and far away travel to see this amazing event, and it’s truly as awesome as it’s hyped up to be. If you’ve never been to the ren fest before, it’s a big festival; based within decorated boarders that depict what life was like in the Renaissance Era. There are old-timey houses, huts, shops, and booths that surround the streets of the main festival. The streets/walkways are dirt and gravel roads, and they run miles across the base. I didn’t get to see every part of the festival, but I knew it stretched very far, and there were many more interesting things happening in certain areas (like jousting, kind of upset I never got to see it).
This specific job was very memorable to me because it was my first time working in the food service industry. My older siblings have all had jobs in the food service industry, so naturally I thought it’d be a good place to start whenever I needed to look for work. This past summer I ended up working at a nature center (which I loved and totally want to do again). So, I wasn’t working in the service industry yet, like I thought I would. During this time many close friends and family members were recommending that I give it a try because I needed the experience, socialization, and money. I do like working with people, so I wanted to give it a try.
I would’ve never thought one of my first jobs would be at a place as cool as the ren fest. I’d never been to the festival before, so I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I agreed to work with my friend and her sister for the month. It was an amazing experience. I got to wear garb for the first time in my life, and it felt good to wear something completely different than I’m used to. I got to interact with people from different backgrounds and states. Some of them had been coming to the ren fest for years, and they were very open to talking about the details of their garb (I loved to ask them). Everyone was so happy and outgoing, and I loved being a part of it.
I worked in an ice cream/milkshake booth, and I can honestly say that I underestimated the skill and experience it takes to work in the food service industry. Of course, I had no prior experience in customer service, but I didn’t think it’d be as tough as it was. It took me a hot second to learn how to make the milkshakes, sundaes, and even the simple crepes we sold. We operated on a make-by-order basis, so while I was learning I was also serving the customers (Many people were forgiving when I messed up their order). There were moments when I had no idea what I was doing. It got nerve wracking at times, but I learned how to handle myself in those types of situations, so I like to think it worked out in my favor.
Working at this festival was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done, and I would love to do it again. The owner of the booth I worked in does a lot of different shows, so it’d be interesting to travel and work at other events. If you’re considering changing your work options or looking for different environments, you should totally take a chance and see what’s out there. I did, and I had an amazing time. Thanks for reading.
